Academic Studies

Multi-Centre RCT Ankle Arthritis Study

Investigators: Dr. Alastair Younger, Dr. Murray Penner, Dr. Kevin Wing

Purpose: The primary purpose of this multi-centre, randomized study is to compare the clinical efficacy of surgical treatments (ankle replacement and ankle fusion) for the treatment of end stage ankle arthritis.

STATE Study 

Investigators: Dr. Kevin Wing, Dr. Jeffrey Nacht, Dr. Alastair Younger, Dr. Murray Penner, Dr. Jason Sutherland, Dr. Andrea Veljkovic

Purpose: To assess changes in patients’ health status (general health, pain, depression) following referral to St. Paul’s hospital and to document the information for future analysis.  Access to such information could improve the quality of orthopaedic care.

OCD Clarix Study 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Murray Penner
Sponsor: Amniox Medical, Inc

Purpose: To measure the effectiveness and safety of CLARIX® CORD 1K membrane when used alongside arthroscopic debridement for treatment of osteochondral defects in the ankle joint.

OCD Survivorship Study

Investigators: Dr. Kevin Wing

Purpose: To retrospectively determine the survivorship of surgically treated ankle OCDs at mid-term to long-term follow-up to illustrate the magnitude of the problem, as well as analyze the risk factors for failure of surgically treated OCDs to recognized high-risk patients.

Mallet Finger Study

Investigators: Dr. Jeff Pike, Dr. Tom Goetz, Dr. Neil Wells, Dr. Arko Demianczuk, Dr. Donna Smith

Purpose: To establish the superiority of custom thermoplastic splinting for minimizing extensor lag in acute mallet finger.

Results: No significant difference between the treatment groups.

Metacarpal Fracture Study

Investigators: Dr. Sean Bristol, Dr. Neil Wells, Dr. Donna Smith, Dr. Nancy Vanlaeken

Purpose: To develop criteria for treating displaced metacarpal fractures so hand surgeons can confidently decide whether a patient requires operative treatment. This will prevent unnecessary surgeries, as well as prevent delayed treatment for necessary surgeries.

Global Ankle Arthroscopy Study

Investigators: Dr. Alastair Younger, Dr. Heather Barske

Purpose: To describe a new technique for ankle arthroscopy and compare complication rates reported for arthroscopy.

Sponsored Studies

AMPLEX Study

Investigators: Dr. Alastair Younger; Dr. Murray Penner, Dr. Kevin Wing, Dr. Andrea Veljkovic
Sponsor: Ferring Pharmaceuticals

Purpose: To demonstrate that AMPLEX is non-inferior to autogenous bone graft (ABG) for bone fusion in a population indicated for single, double, or triple hindfoot arthrodesis or ankle arthrodesis surgery with supplemental graft material.

Augment LT Study

Investigators: Dr. Alastair Younger; Dr. Murray Penner, Dr. Kevin Wing
Sponsor: Wright Medical, Inc.

Purpose: To evaluate the long term clinical utility of Augment Bone Graft (previously GEM OS1) as a bone regeneration device in foot and ankle arthrodesis procedures for patients previously enrolled in the GEM OS1 Research Study.

Cartiva MOTION Study

Investigators: Dr. Alastair Younger, Dr. Kevin Wing, Dr. Murray Penner, Dr. Alastair Younger
Sponsor: Cartiva, Inc.

Purpose: The objective of this multi-centre study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Cartiva^TM implant in the treatment of osteoarthritis in the first Metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint as compared to an arthrodesis (control) procedure.

Bioventus DUROLANE Study

Investigators: Dr. Alastair Younger, Dr. Jeffrey Nacht, Dr. Kevin Wing, Dr. Murray Penner, Dr. Andrea Veljkovic
Sponsor: Bioventus LLC

Purpose: The  objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a single intra-articular injection of DUROLANE® 1mL given for the relief of pain in the treatment of moderate osteoarthritis of the ankle over a 26 week period.

Fibular Nail 2 Study

Principal Investigator: Dr. Alastair Younger

Purpose:  To assess the safety and efficacy of fluoroscopic reduction and fibular nail fixation in minimizing wound and fracture healing complications during the treatment of unstable ankle fractures in patients with diabetes (type 1 or 2).

Fibular Nail Study

Investigators: Dr. Alastair Younger
Sponsor: Acumed LLC

Purpose: To evaluate the use of an experimental intramedullary nail (Acumed Fibula Rod) for use in the reduction and fixation of ankle fractures in wound risk patients with diabetes (type 1 or 2).

Exogen Study

Investigators: Dr. Kevin Wing, Dr. Alastair Younger, Dr. Murray Penner
Sponsor: Smith and Nephew

Purpose: To evaluate the use of an experimental ultrasound bone device (EXOGEN 4000+ TM Ultrasound Bone Healing System) in accelerating the natural bone healing process after a standard tarsometatarsal (TMT) joint fusion procedure, and preventing a non-union.

Cartiva MOTION Study

Investigators: Dr. Alastair Younger, Dr. Kevin Wing, Dr. Murray Penner
Sponsor: Cartiva, Inc.

Purpose: The objective of this multi-centre study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Cartiva^TM implant in the treatment of osteoarthritis in the first Metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint as compared to an arthrodesis (control) procedure.

Osteochondral Defects (OCD) of the Talus Study

Investigators: Dr. Alastair Younger, Dr. Kevin Wing, Dr. Murray Penner
Sponsor: Biomimetic Therapeutics, Inc.

Purpose: To use synthetic Augment™ Bone Graft as an alternative to autograft in the arthroscopic treatment of Osteochondral Defects (OCD) of the talus. This study will examine the safety, clinical utility, and preliminary effectiveness of the graft in stabilizing bone or cartilage and preventing further osteochondral lesion collapse.

Pivotal Augment^TM Injectable Study

Investigators: Dr. Alastair Younger, Dr. Kevin Wing, Dr. Murray Penner
Sponsor: Biomimetics Theraputics, Inc.

Purpose: The objective of this multi-centre study is to evaluate the use of AugmentTM Injectable compared to autologous bone graft as a bone regeneration device for hindfoot fusions.

Bioset Amplex Study

Investigators: Dr. Alastair Younger, Dr. Kevin Wing, Dr. Murray Penner, Dr. Stephen Pinney
Sponsor: BioSurface Engineering Technologies, Inc.

Purpose: To evaluate the use of Amplex for use in foot and ankle fusions for degenerative arthritis, post-traumatic degenerative arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis of the subtalar, calcaeneocuboid, and talonavicular joints of the ankle.

Tiger Study

Investigators: Dr. T.C. Yang, Dr. Tim Kalla, Dr. Alastair Younger, Dr. Gavin Chalmers, Dr. Ian Yu
Sponsor: WYETH Research

Purpose: To compare the safety and efficacy of a once-daily dose of Tigecycline versus Ertapenem for the treatment of foot infections in subjects with diabetes.

Augment Study

Investigators: Dr. Alastair Younger; Dr. Murray Penner, Dr. Kevin Wing
Sponsor: BioMimetic Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of AIBG compared to autologous bone graft as a bone regeneration device in foot and ankle fusions.

GEM OS1 Study

Investigators: Dr. Alastair Younger; Dr. Murray Penner, Dr. Kevin Wing
Sponsor: BioMimetic Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical utility of GEM OS1 as a bone regeneration device in foot and ankle arthrodesis procedures.